The 18th International Planning History Society Conference -Yokohama, 2019
After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land... more After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land has played a larger and increasing role within and in relation to housing recovery support programs. With different historical, legal, and governance contexts, residential buyouts are shaped by the respective policies of each country. Framed by earlier precedents, this paper explains the development and implementation of residential buyout programs used after recent disasters: the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in Japan and 2012 Superstorm Sandy in New York City and New York State in the United States. Through a comparison of roles of buyout in relationship to other aspects of postdisaster housing reconstruction and recovery support, some similarities are identified in the challenges of implementation, as well as uniquely different issues faced by the affected communities and households in each case.
Journal of The American Planning Association, Oct 2, 2014
Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or pe... more Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or permanently from natural disasters has been increasing at an unprecedented rate. As a result, there is a growing need for a systematic framework of resettlement planning after disasters, to either rebuild in place (in situ) or to relocate, and whether to do so independently or collaboratively with their neighbors. To gain an in-depth understanding of how resettlement is advanced, I focus on a region in Chuetsu, Japan, supplemented with cases in New Orleans (LA) and Tohoku, Japan. Results suggest that resettlement decisions, processes, and outcomes reflect both larger socioeconomic trends and interactions between governments, communities, and households. Although the governments' speed of resettlement planning and implementation initially set the pace, informal communication within communities most influenced decision making. In addition, inherent community dynamics, especially styles of communication, directly influenced resettlement decisions and outcomes. Takeaway for practice: Although every disaster is unique in its context, communities are the key players in determining resettlement outcomes. Key points of consideration include: a) resettlement decision processes vary based on the inherent characteristics of communities; b) government officials often emphasize speed, even though it undermines overall quality of rebuilding; c) reestablishing livelihoods of equal or greater satisfaction to that before the disaster is important; and d) local communities are often capable of identifying and acting for their needs, regardless of governmental intentions. Planners need to support the establishment of a system in which communities are empowered by governments to make the most suitable decisions for sustainable livelihood recovery.
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Natural Hazard Science, Jan 25, 2019
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most haza... more Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most hazard prone countries in the world. The country faces different types of natural hazards including geophysical disturbances such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, meteorological and hydrological events such as typhoons and floods, and slow-onset disasters such as droughts. Together with rapidly increasing population growth and urbanization, large-scale natural phenomena have resulted in unprecedented scales of devastation. In the early 21st century alone, the country experienced some of the most destructive and costliest disasters in its history including Typhoon Yolanda (2013), Typhoon Pablo (2012), and the Bohol Earthquake (2013). Recurrent natural disasters have prompted the Philippine government to develop disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) strategies to better prepare, respond, and recover, as well as to be more resilient in the face of natural disasters. Since the early 1940s, the governing structure has undergone several revisions through legal and institutional arrangements. Historical natural disasters and seismic risks have affected and continue to threaten the National Capital Region (NCR) and the surrounding administrative areas; these were key factors in advancing DRRM laws and regulations, as well as in restructuring its governing bodies. The current DRRM structure was instituted under Republic Act no. 10121 (RA10121) in 2010 and was implemented to shift from responsive to proactive governance by better engaging local governments (LGUs), communities, and the private sector to reduce long-term disaster risk. This Republic Act established a national disaster risk reduction and management council (NDRRMC) to develop strategies that manage and reduce risk. Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 was the most significant test of this revised governance structure and related strategies. The typhoon revealed drawbacks of the current council-led governing structure to advancing resilience. Salient topics include how to respond better to disaster realities, how to efficiently coordinate among relevant agencies, and how to be more inclusive of relevant actors. Together with other issues, such as the way to co-exist with climate change efforts, a thorough examination of RA 10121 by the national government and advocates for DRRM is underway. Some of the most important discourse to date focuses on ways to institute a powerful governing body that enables more efficient DRRM with administrative and financial power. The hope is that by instituting a governing system that can thoroughly lead all phases of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, the country can withstand future—and likely more frequent—mega-disasters.
The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minim... more The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minimize future devastation from natural disasters. This paper reports on presentations and discussions from the Second International Symposium on Recovery after Mega Disasters: People, Community and Planning, held March 16, 2015 during the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. International experts, including practitioners and researchers, presented varied recovery efforts and insights. The three following principles emerged from the symposium. 1) Relocation, compact (re)development, renewable energy, and flood controls are key policy focuses in recovery plans, and require careful individual and community involvement, planning designs, and information sharing. 2) Identifying unique local resources is key for successful recovery and can help formulate innovative strategies. 3) As rebuilding that considers local culture, systems, and groups aids in resilient recovery, planning practitioners need in-depth understanding of local contexts to derive better solutions. Given these three principles, participants agreed that at its core, the concept of ‘building back better’ requires tailor-made planning designs and processes.
Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate... more Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate communities, with the idea that well-designed plans and implementation will lead to increased resilience. While the rationale has been that relocating away from hazards will reduce the risk of future devastation, in practice relocation has long been the least favored policy option. Communities targeted for relocation are often disadvantaged to begin with, and relocation disturbs their social networks and economic well-being, pushing them further into destitution. In light of this, it is important to understand good relocation governance, particularly ways in which local governments carry out relocation with local actors, and especially considering increasing rates of post-disaster relocation efforts. This paper focuses on three recovery cases – earthquake and tsunamis in Tohoku (Japan), storm surge in Leyte (the Philippines), and volcanic eruption in Yogyakarta (Indonesia) – to examine different governmental approaches to community relocation. Specifically, it explores how program design and governance structure impacts implementation and success of community relocation, and how that effects community engagement and the ultimate outcomes of relocation in a long-term. Cross-comparison analysis of governance suggests six findings. First, housing programs that existed pre-disaster are the most likely mechanisms to be used for community relocation post-disaster, as it is difficult to quickly reconfigure relocation programs. Second, governance structure and stability greatly influence the relocation process, which in turn affects social networks and sentiments of those relocating. Third, the way in which incentives are allocated affect the responsibility of recipients toward relocation actions. Fourth, governments' monitoring of community relocation could influence projects' speed, but not the quality of resettlement outcomes. Fifth, the way governments and communities approach relocation are largely a result of their local culture, thus, considering and adapting the local philosophy increases community buy-in. Lastly, actively involving communities in relocation governance is important for their continued investment in the new sites. In sum, a revised model of governance supporting holistic “life rebuilding”, rather than solely “rehousing”, in the societal system is critical, and stresses the importance of governance structured to center communities within the decision-making process.
The 18th International Planning History Society Conference -Yokohama, 2019
After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land... more After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land has played a larger and increasing role within and in relation to housing recovery support programs. With different historical, legal, and governance contexts, residential buyouts are shaped by the respective policies of each country. Framed by earlier precedents, this paper explains the development and implementation of residential buyout programs used after recent disasters: the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in Japan and 2012 Superstorm Sandy in New York City and New York State in the United States. Through a comparison of roles of buyout in relationship to other aspects of postdisaster housing reconstruction and recovery support, some similarities are identified in the challenges of implementation, as well as uniquely different issues faced by the affected communities and households in each case.
Journal of The American Planning Association, Oct 2, 2014
Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or pe... more Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or permanently from natural disasters has been increasing at an unprecedented rate. As a result, there is a growing need for a systematic framework of resettlement planning after disasters, to either rebuild in place (in situ) or to relocate, and whether to do so independently or collaboratively with their neighbors. To gain an in-depth understanding of how resettlement is advanced, I focus on a region in Chuetsu, Japan, supplemented with cases in New Orleans (LA) and Tohoku, Japan. Results suggest that resettlement decisions, processes, and outcomes reflect both larger socioeconomic trends and interactions between governments, communities, and households. Although the governments' speed of resettlement planning and implementation initially set the pace, informal communication within communities most influenced decision making. In addition, inherent community dynamics, especially styles of communication, directly influenced resettlement decisions and outcomes. Takeaway for practice: Although every disaster is unique in its context, communities are the key players in determining resettlement outcomes. Key points of consideration include: a) resettlement decision processes vary based on the inherent characteristics of communities; b) government officials often emphasize speed, even though it undermines overall quality of rebuilding; c) reestablishing livelihoods of equal or greater satisfaction to that before the disaster is important; and d) local communities are often capable of identifying and acting for their needs, regardless of governmental intentions. Planners need to support the establishment of a system in which communities are empowered by governments to make the most suitable decisions for sustainable livelihood recovery.
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Natural Hazard Science, Jan 25, 2019
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most haza... more Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most hazard prone countries in the world. The country faces different types of natural hazards including geophysical disturbances such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, meteorological and hydrological events such as typhoons and floods, and slow-onset disasters such as droughts. Together with rapidly increasing population growth and urbanization, large-scale natural phenomena have resulted in unprecedented scales of devastation. In the early 21st century alone, the country experienced some of the most destructive and costliest disasters in its history including Typhoon Yolanda (2013), Typhoon Pablo (2012), and the Bohol Earthquake (2013). Recurrent natural disasters have prompted the Philippine government to develop disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) strategies to better prepare, respond, and recover, as well as to be more resilient in the face of natural disasters. Since the early 1940s, the governing structure has undergone several revisions through legal and institutional arrangements. Historical natural disasters and seismic risks have affected and continue to threaten the National Capital Region (NCR) and the surrounding administrative areas; these were key factors in advancing DRRM laws and regulations, as well as in restructuring its governing bodies. The current DRRM structure was instituted under Republic Act no. 10121 (RA10121) in 2010 and was implemented to shift from responsive to proactive governance by better engaging local governments (LGUs), communities, and the private sector to reduce long-term disaster risk. This Republic Act established a national disaster risk reduction and management council (NDRRMC) to develop strategies that manage and reduce risk. Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 was the most significant test of this revised governance structure and related strategies. The typhoon revealed drawbacks of the current council-led governing structure to advancing resilience. Salient topics include how to respond better to disaster realities, how to efficiently coordinate among relevant agencies, and how to be more inclusive of relevant actors. Together with other issues, such as the way to co-exist with climate change efforts, a thorough examination of RA 10121 by the national government and advocates for DRRM is underway. Some of the most important discourse to date focuses on ways to institute a powerful governing body that enables more efficient DRRM with administrative and financial power. The hope is that by instituting a governing system that can thoroughly lead all phases of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, the country can withstand future—and likely more frequent—mega-disasters.
The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minim... more The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minimize future devastation from natural disasters. This paper reports on presentations and discussions from the Second International Symposium on Recovery after Mega Disasters: People, Community and Planning, held March 16, 2015 during the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. International experts, including practitioners and researchers, presented varied recovery efforts and insights. The three following principles emerged from the symposium. 1) Relocation, compact (re)development, renewable energy, and flood controls are key policy focuses in recovery plans, and require careful individual and community involvement, planning designs, and information sharing. 2) Identifying unique local resources is key for successful recovery and can help formulate innovative strategies. 3) As rebuilding that considers local culture, systems, and groups aids in resilient recovery, planning practitioners need in-depth understanding of local contexts to derive better solutions. Given these three principles, participants agreed that at its core, the concept of ‘building back better’ requires tailor-made planning designs and processes.
Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate... more Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate communities, with the idea that well-designed plans and implementation will lead to increased resilience. While the rationale has been that relocating away from hazards will reduce the risk of future devastation, in practice relocation has long been the least favored policy option. Communities targeted for relocation are often disadvantaged to begin with, and relocation disturbs their social networks and economic well-being, pushing them further into destitution. In light of this, it is important to understand good relocation governance, particularly ways in which local governments carry out relocation with local actors, and especially considering increasing rates of post-disaster relocation efforts. This paper focuses on three recovery cases – earthquake and tsunamis in Tohoku (Japan), storm surge in Leyte (the Philippines), and volcanic eruption in Yogyakarta (Indonesia) – to examine different governmental approaches to community relocation. Specifically, it explores how program design and governance structure impacts implementation and success of community relocation, and how that effects community engagement and the ultimate outcomes of relocation in a long-term. Cross-comparison analysis of governance suggests six findings. First, housing programs that existed pre-disaster are the most likely mechanisms to be used for community relocation post-disaster, as it is difficult to quickly reconfigure relocation programs. Second, governance structure and stability greatly influence the relocation process, which in turn affects social networks and sentiments of those relocating. Third, the way in which incentives are allocated affect the responsibility of recipients toward relocation actions. Fourth, governments' monitoring of community relocation could influence projects' speed, but not the quality of resettlement outcomes. Fifth, the way governments and communities approach relocation are largely a result of their local culture, thus, considering and adapting the local philosophy increases community buy-in. Lastly, actively involving communities in relocation governance is important for their continued investment in the new sites. In sum, a revised model of governance supporting holistic “life rebuilding”, rather than solely “rehousing”, in the societal system is critical, and stresses the importance of governance structured to center communities within the decision-making process.
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Papers by Kanako Iuchi